As are most other copepod species, the deep-sea copepod is bioluminescent.
It sometimes escapes its predators (such as the giant ostracod, or the northern stoplight loosejaw) with a bioluminescent "fireworks" display, which leaves a distracting bright cloud trail behind.
Most copepod species are 1-3 mm long, but the deep-sea copepod is a giant, measuring more than 2.5 cm across its antennae.
Gaussia princeps, commonly referred to as the “Black Prince Copepod,” is a relatively large copepod around 10 mm in length. It is found in tropic and temperate waters worldwide, usually in the mesopelagic zone (below 500 m). It is carnivorous and is known to migrate to shallower depths at night to feed. It is bioluminescent and secretes the protein luciferase to produce blue light. Gaussia luciferase is a useful tool since it can be expressed in mammalian as well as non-mammalian cells. For example, it can be used to monitor biological processes such as tumor growth (Wurdinger et al. 2008). Gaussia luciferase can also be used to detect fungal infections (Enjalbert et al. 2009). Most research about Gaussia princeps involves applications of its luciferase, and more information is needed about its ecology.
Gaussia princeps, commonly referred to as the “Black Prince Copepod,” is a relatively large copepod around 10 mm in length. It is found in tropic and temperate waters worldwide, usually in the mesopelagic zone (below 500 m). It is carnivorous and is known to migrate to shallower depths at night to feed. It is bioluminescent and secretes the protein luciferase to produce blue light. Gaussia luciferase is a useful tool since it can be expressed in mammalian as well as non-mammalian cells. For example, it can be used to monitor biological processes such as tumor growth (Wurdinger et al. 2008). Gaussia luciferase can also be used to detect fungal infections (Enjalbert et al. 2009). Most research about Gaussia princeps involves applications of its luciferase, and more information is needed about its ecology.
Gaussia princeps, commonly referred to as the “Black Prince Copepod,” is a relatively large copepod around 10 mm in length. It is found in tropic and temperate waters worldwide, usually in the mesopelagic zone (below 500 m). It is carnivorous and is known to migrate to shallower depths at night to feed. It is bioluminescent and secretes the protein luciferase to produce blue light. Gaussia luciferase is a useful tool since it can be expressed in mammalian as well as non-mammalian cells. For example, it can be used to monitor biological processes such as tumor growth (Wurdinger et al. 2008). Gaussia luciferase can also be used to detect fungal infections (Enjalbert et al. 2009). Most research about Gaussia princeps involves applications of its luciferase, and more information is needed about its ecology.
Gaussia princeps, commonly referred to as the “Black Prince Copepod,” is a relatively large copepod around 10 mm in length. It is found in tropic and temperate waters worldwide, usually in the mesopelagic zone (below 500 m). It is carnivorous and is known to migrate to shallower depths at night to feed. It is bioluminescent and secretes the protein luciferase to produce blue light. Gaussia luciferase is a useful tool since it can be expressed in mammalian as well as non-mammalian cells. For example, it can be used to monitor biological processes such as tumor growth (Wurdinger et al. 2008). Gaussia luciferase can also be used to detect fungal infections (Enjalbert et al. 2009). Most research about Gaussia princeps involves applications of its luciferase, and more information is needed about its ecology.
